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55mph is a sweet spot where the engine is operating close to peak efficiency and air resistance hasn't yet exploded. There very much are cars that are most efficient at 65, but that is because they sacrifice efficiency elsewhere.

Peak efficiency is the intersection of many curves- gearing, rpm, aerodynamics, speed... Aerodynamics is possibly the biggest factor though, hence the common point of 55




>55mph is a sweet spot where the engine is operating close to peak efficiency and air resistance hasn't yet exploded.

i think 55 is just the speed of EPA "highway" efficiency tests


Another important bullet I forgot- the national maximum speed limit was 55mph until 1995. Cars were probably made to target that.




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